Leave me alone, pleads Harry

Prince Harry is tired of dodging the world's media and wants to be left alone to learn about life on an Australian outback property.

Colleen Harris, press secretary to Harry's father Charles, the Prince of Wales, said today the 19-year-old prince did not want to spend his time in Australia trying to avoid the cameras.

"Learning about the farm and the jackaroo trade, that's what he wants to do, not dodge the cameras," she said.

In his only public appearance so far, Prince Harry was photographed by a posse of local and British media at Sydney's Taronga Zoo shortly after arriving in Australia on Tuesday.

But Ms Harris today issued a plea to the world's media to now leave Harry in peace at Tooloombilla, a 16,000 hectare cattle property west of Injune in outback Queensland.

"We are grateful to the media for making Prince Harry's arrival in Australia and the subsequent photocall so successful," she said in a statement.

"As we made clear when he arrived, Harry is here on a private visit to learn about the country and to learn new trades and disciplines."

Harry will work as a jackeroo on the Tooloombilla property for the next three months, but he will also take time out to play polo and attend the Rugby World Cup, starting next month.

However, his priority is the cattle property where he will earn the very unprincely sum of $212.63 a week after tax as he learns to be a jackaroo.

"He can only do this if he is allowed to live peacefully and in privacy, away from the media spotlight," Ms Harris said.

"In common with all other tours that he and his brother William have undertaken in the UK and elsewhere in the Commonwealth, we would ask the media to respect that privacy and to desist from seeking to photograph him.

"We would be pleased if camera crews and photographers who are currently at Tooloombilla would withdraw accordingly."

Tooloombilla station is owned by Annie and Noel Hill.

Mrs Hill is a long-time friend of Harry's late mother Princess Diana, while Mr Hill is a son of millionaire polo star Sinclair Hill, who has coached Harry's father Prince Charles.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie also called on the increasing horde of local and overseas media to leave Prince Harry alone.

"I would hope that everybody, and that includes the media, give him a bit of breathing space and respects his right to some degree of privacy," he said yesterday.

But tourism officials hope the royal visitor will boost the outback's profile with young British backpackers.

Ms Harris said future picture opportunities with the Prince may be organised.

"We hope to arrange further photo opportunities during Harry's time here but we hope the media will now allow him to experience this country in peace and quiet," she said.